The 10 Best Ways to Get Rid of Garlic Smell on Your Hands

Co-authored by Jerran Boyer and Hunter Rising

Last Updated: February 17, 2023 References

Garlic smells delicious when you add it to your meal, but not so much when the odor lingers on your hand for a few days. If you don't want to deal with smelly garlic hands after you get done cooking, there are a ton of things you have at home that can make the odors disappear. Keep reading for the best ways to completely get rid of the garlic smell so your hands are fresh and clean!

1

Salt and baking soda

A salt and baking soda scrub absorbs the garlic smell from your hands. Add 1 teaspoon (6 g) of salt and 2 tablespoons (10 g) of baking soda into a bowl. Slowly add water until you make a thick paste. Scrub the paste into your hands, focusing on the areas that are the smelliest. Then, just rinse off the paste with soapy water.^{[1]
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- Baking soda is a natural deodorizer and salt exfoliates your skin to get rid of deep odors.
- Salt could sting if you have any open cuts or dry skin on your hands.

2

Lemon and salt

The fresh citrus scent helps cover and eliminate smelly garlic. You can use bottled lemon juice or juice a fresh lemon since the acid neutralizes the odor from your hands. Sprinkle a pinch of salt on your hands and pour on the lemon juice. Scrub your hands vigorously until you completely get rid of the garlic smell.^{[2]
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- Be careful using lemon juice if you have cuts or dry skin since it may sting.

3

Stainless steel

Stainless steel bonds with the molecules that cause lingering garlic odor. Take any stainless steel utensil like a spoon or a butter knife, and hold it underneath cold running water. Rub the utensil over your hands vigorously for a few minutes before checking if the smell disappeared.^{[3]
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- If you have a stainless steel sink, you can rub your hands on it instead of using a utensil.
- You can get a stainless steel soap bar to keep near your kitchen sink whenever you work with garlic or other smelly ingredients.
- Cold water helps shrink your pores so the odors don’t get caught or stick around.

4

Coffee

Coffee masks the garlic and acts as an odor absorber. You can use coffee grounds or instant coffee to get the smell off your hands. Sprinkle the coffee on your hands and wet them underneath some water. Rub the coffee into your skin on your fingertips and palms. Check if the garlic smell is gone a few times while you’re scrubbing your hands to make sure the odor goes away completely. Rinse your hands with clean water when you’re finished.^{[4]
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5

Vinegar

The acid in vinegar cleans and naturally deodorizes garlic smells. Splash some white vinegar on your hands and rub it into your skin. Really scrub the tips of your fingers since that’s usually where the garlic is the smelliest. Rinse the vinegar off your hands and dry them.^{[5]
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- Your hands might smell a little like vinegar right after you clean them, but the smell will go away after a few minutes. If the smell bothers you, wash your hands with soap and water.

6

Tomato juice

Tomato juice is a classic way to get strong odors off your skin. Cut a slice of fresh tomato or open a can of tomato juice and run it on your skin. Scrub your hands really well to mask the garlic smell and draw it out of your skin.^{[6]
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7

Mouthwash

The minty smell of mouthwash helps get rid of the garlic smell. Splash the mouthwash onto your hands and rub it into your skin. Scrub your hands really well and add more mouthwash if you can still smell garlic. Just rinse the mouthwash off of your hands with soapy water so they aren’t sticky when you’re finished.^{[7]
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- You can use mouthwash to get rid of garlic breath too.

8

Toothpaste

Toothpaste covers the smell and scrubs your skin. Use a white toothpaste that has added baking soda so it’s more effective. Wet the toothpaste with some water and rub it between your fingers to remove the smell of garlic from your hands. Then just wash your hands with soapy water to clean off the toothpaste.^{[8]
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9

Hand sanitizer

A scented sanitizer could help kill and mask the odors. Squirt a coin-sized amount of hand sanitizer on your hands and rub it in completely. The sanitizer will cover the smell of the garlic so it’s not noticeable. It may not remove the odor entirely, so reapply sanitizer if you notice a smell again.^{[9]
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10

Perfume or cologne

Perfume or cologne works as a last resort to mask the odor. If you’re in a rush and can still smell garlic on your hands, spritz the cologne or spray perfume on your wrists and rub it in. If the scent of the perfume or cologne starts to go away, just reapply a small spritz.^{[10]
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- If you’re going to be touching other food, avoid using perfume or cologne since the smell could transfer to the food and leave an unpleasant taste.